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Murders down by more than a fifth, Minister tells House

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net HOURS after police were called to the country’s latest homicide scene, Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage announced that overall crime is down 29 per cent compared to the first half of last year.

According to statistics he presented in the House of Assembly yesterday, from January 1, 2016 to June 14, 2016 murders fell by 22 per cent.

The figures show that 69 murders had been recorded by that time in 2015, compared to 54 as of June 14 this year.

However, yesterday morn-

ing’s killing and a second at about 10pm last night pushed the murder count to 58 for the year compared to 71 killings as of June 20, 2015. This means murders are down 20 per cent compared to last year at this time, according to The Tribune’s calculations. Last year, the country hit a homicide record, with police recording 146 murders in 2015.

Dr Nottage also said there has been a nine per cent decrease in attempted murder; a 15 per cent decrease in rape; a 38 per cent decrease in attempted rape; a 21 per cent decrease in armed robbery, and an 18 per cent decrease in robbery.

3,000 USERS MAY HAVE ELECTRIC DEBT WRITTEN OFF

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave� Davis revealed yesterday that the government is working on a series of operational agreements with Bahamas Power and Light to write off many of the corporation’s delinquent accounts, potentially returning some 3,000 users back to the grid.

SEE PAGE 11

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUSPECT SHOT DEAD ON DAY OF TWO MURDERS

SEE PAGE SIX

45 YEARS FOR McCARTNEY MURDER, SEVEN YEARS FOR MANSLAUGHTER

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THORNE Edwards was sentenced to 45 years for murder and 20 years for armed robbery for his role in the killing of businessman Kurt McCartney.

The sentences for the convicted murderer will run concurrently and were reduced by Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs for time spent on remand. Edwards has been in custody since November 2013.

His co-accused and former girlfriend Lyndera

Curry received seven years for her manslaughter conviction and five years for armed robbery.

The prosecution had asked Senior Justice Isaacs to impose the maximum penalties – death and life sentences – on the law books for the accused.

The prosecution said the shooting of McCartney, an unarmed man, in the head and crushing nearly every bone in his body with his own truck to ensure his death, warranted such sentences.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

THE MURDER scene where a 19-year-old man was shot dead in Woods Alley.

By SANCHESKA BROWN yesterday, with a second murder shortTribune Staff Reporter ly before 10pm last night on Wulff sbrown@tribunemedia.net Road, bringing the country’s murder  count to 58 for the year.

A 19-YEAR-OLD man was shot In the first killing, officer-inmultiple times and killed while walk- charge of the Central Detective ing through his neighbourhood on Unit, Chief Superintendent ClayTuesday morning. ton Fernander said gunshots were This was the first of two murders heard through Woods Alley, off

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Market Street, shortly after 9am Tuesday.

Chief Supt Fernander said when officers arrived on the scene they saw the lifeless body of a man with multiple gunshot wounds lying on the side of the street.

SEE PAGE SIX

$16M LOAN TO COB TO SUPPORT TURNQUEST NOT WORRIED BY MOVE TO UNIVERSITY CANCELLED DEPUTY LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net  A $16m loan granted to the College of the Bahamas from a regional bank to assist in the institution’s transition to university status has been cancelled, The Tribune understands.

According to an email

by Ronnie Stevenson, vice-president of operations at COB, obtained

by The Tribune, the loan

agreement between the government and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for $16.1m to support the funding of phase one of the institution’s transition process has been cancelled.

According to the email, the consultancy to assist with phase two of the COB Transformation Project Design Services was to be funded by this loan.

SEE PAGE SIX

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net  FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said he has “no worries or concerns� about being challenged for his position, claiming that his chief opponent does not currently “possess the skills that are paramount in need� to move the country forward.

Mr Turnquest, in an in-

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

terview with The Tribune, dismissed assertions that the team of FNM Senator Dr Duane Sands and Long Island MP Loretta ButlerTurner could prove to be a challenge to him or FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

Mr Turnquest said while both Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands are “quality Bahamians� who both “have something to offer,� the current leadership team SEE PAGE THREE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 22, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling with 103-year-old Samuel Vincent Neily, of The Bluff, Eleuthera, at St Joseph’s Adult Day Care Centre yesterday. Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

‘I HAVE LAUGHED, CRIED AND LIVED,’ SAYS 103-YEAR-OLD SAMUEL Vincent Neilly’s life has spanned more than a century. When asked how best to describe his 103 years, he said: “The thing about my life is that it has been tough, hard at times, but I have laughed, cried and lived and I will do that until God calls me.”

The father of 14 from The Bluff, Eleuthera, has seen The Bahamas – a territory of 700 islands, reefs and cays – grow long before it became

an independent nation.

Born on December 31, 1912, Mr Neilly worked for most of his life as a skilled painter or farm hand to support his family.

Mr Neilly recounted to The Tribune of the challenges of growing up in Eleuthera during the early 20th century, recalling the hardships and struggles to acquire his first piece of land, building his home, losing his first wife in child-

103-year-old Samuel Vincent Neily.

birth, being a single father for a time and remarrying.

Mr Neilly now resides in New Providence with one of his older children and has recently started attending the St Joseph’s Adult Day Centre on Boyd Road.

Yesterday, he received a visit from the Governor General, Dame Marguerite Pindling, at the day centre, where she presented him with a basket of fruit as a gift.

GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling greets residents and staff at St Joseph’s Adult Day Care Centre.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, PAGE 3

Watson backs ‘dream ticket’ of Butler-Turner and Sands

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson yesterday joined his successor Brent Symonette in announcing his support for the “dream ticket” of Loretta Butler-Turner and Dr Duane Sands in the Free National Movement’s leadership race.

Mrs Butler-Turner, who will run for leader, and Dr Sands, who will run for deputy leader, will take on the current leadership duo of Dr Hubert Minnis and Peter Turnquest at next month’s FNM convention.

Neither Mr Symonette, who told The Nassau Guardian Monday that he supports the challengers, nor Mr Watson declared their support for particular people ahead of the 2014 FNM convention, when Dr Minnis and Mr Turnquest won their respective races.

Mr Watson, who served in the first Ingraham administration, said he will “try and persuade everyone he knows” to vote for Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands next month.

“I have never been supportive of personalities,” Mr Watson said. “I support what would be best able to deliver that which our party exists for, and that’s to win

an election so we can pursue the objectives that are in the best interest of our country.”

Regarding Mrs ButlerTurner and Dr Sands, he said: “I believe they have a better opportunity of accomplishing this because leadership is about the ability to connect to the voter in a way which causes them to give you their support.

“And I believe that they are best able to do that.

They are politically astute.

They understand the needs, hopes and desires of our people and they are able to articulate it in a way that the average Bahamian will understand.”

Mr Watson acknowledged that it will be difficult for the challengers to defeat the incumbents.

Reaction to Mrs ButlerTurner and Dr Sands’ decision has been mostly positive, and Mr Watson said the pair must harness public support to convince delegates to vote for them.

“The extent to which the public lends their support to the ticket, that will influence delegates who are going to convention,” he said.

“Right now they have to work hard, a 24-hour job ‘til convention day. They got to reach out to all those delegates, probably on a personal basis to persuade them that they have what it

THE ‘dream ticket’ of Dr Duane Sands and Loretta Butler-Turner is being backed by Frank Watson for deputy leader and leader respectively. takes.”

In seeking to persuade delegates, Mrs Butler-Turner may have to address illfeelings that were aroused among some FNMs when she and five other parliamentarians threatened to

have Dr Minnis removed as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament if he failed to call an early convention.

This is because in 2014 many delegates said they did not like it when Mrs

Butler-Turner “aired the party’s dirty laundry in public.” They claimed they had the ability to keep drama behind closed doors in high esteem.

“People find all kinds of excuses why they don’t vote

for you,” Mr Watson said in response to a question about how the ticket could deal with the ill feelings likely to have been aroused by the threatened coup.

The FNM’s convention is July 27-29.

TURNQUEST NOT WORRIED BY DEPUTY LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE from page one

is “more in line with what we need as a country and as a party to take us into the 2017 (general) election”.

Mr Turnquest also suggested that the FNM’s July convention will likely be repeat of the party’s 2014 event.

At that convention, he beat out Dr Sands and former FNM Chairman Darron Cash.

Mrs Butler-Turner, the party’s former deputy leader, lost by a wide margin to Dr Minnis.

Mr Turnquest was responding to an announcement from Dr Sands that he and Mrs Butler-Turner will run as a team to try and win the party’s top two posts.

The pair finalised the decision on Saturday and informed Dr Minnis and Mr Turnquest of their intentions on Sunday.

“I have no worries or concerns about the challenge from (Mrs-Butler-Turner

and Dr Sands),” Mr Turnquest told The Tribune. “I believe that we as a leadership team, Dr Minnis and I have good synergy, work well together, support one another, we share advice with one another, and I believe that when it comes to the future of this country, the vision for this country, that he and I share the same values, and that is simply that it is time now for the Bahamian people, rich, white, black, poor, to share in what this country has to offer.

“I don’t take anything away from (Mrs ButlerTurner and Dr Sands), they are quality Bahamians, they have contributed to this country and no doubt they have much more to contribute. But at this time where we stand, the vision that (I and Dr Minnis) offer as a leadership team I believe is more in line with what we need as a country and as a party to take us into the 2017 (general) election.”

He added: “We have a country with negative

growth, we have a country with rising unemployment, we have a country with a significant debt that is continuing to rise despite what the government says, we have a country where taxes are burdening our people.

It requires a certain amount of skill, it takes a certain amount of financial ability, insight, and with Dr Minnis’ business experience, my financial experience, I believe we provide the perfect balance, the perfect combination to tackle the problems that are facing the country today.”

Mr Turnquest also dismissed assertions by former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette that recent polling revealed that Mrs Butler-Turner was more popular among voters than Dr Minnis.

“As I walk around this country with Dr Minnis, the support and the reaction has been tremendous,” Mr Turnquest said. “Overwhelming. And so I don’t know what music (Mr Symonette) is listening to, but

MINNIS BLASTS GOVERNMENT OVER CRIME, UNEMPLOYMENT FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis criticised the government yesterday, saying that the last four years have been characterised by rising national debt, no accountability, a low growth rate, high unemployment and an unacceptable rate of violent crime.

“The people know this reality because they are forced to live through this reality each and every day,” Dr Minnis said in a statement. “Yet, instead of working to reduce all this chaos, this PLP government is responsible for accelerating The Bahamas’ decline through a staggering lack of transparency, blatant partisanship and an ego-driven political decision-making process that only serves to enrich themselves at the people’s expense.”

He added that the Christie administration’s legacy will be a series “of broken promises and empty rhetoric”.

“They told us they would target crime and we see murders hitting record highs – even as the PLP government tries to pass this off as ‘unusual’.

“They promised us great economic benefits with Baha Mar – good jobs and

a boost to tourism. Yet Yesterday, in a separate tourism continues to de- statement FNM Chaircline; the 5,000 jobs they man Sidney Collie chaspromised never material- tised Prime Minister Perry ised and Baha Mar sits in- Christie for not revealing complete and empty. This the full details behind negogovernment continues to tiations over Baha Mar with operate in a veil of secre- Chinese officials. cy, withholding from the “Who benefits by this public vital information on secret deal? Not our peotheir clandestine meetings, ple, not our workers, not talks, and or agreement of our contractors,” Mr Collie a potential give-away to un- said. “If they are not paid known Chinese investors. for the work done, then Why the secrecy? any secret deal would only “The FNM stands for benefit the Chinese and this transparency. We will fight government who continues to strengthen our economy. to seek headlines in an elecWe will relentlessly attack tion year.” the long simmering problem of crime and its root causes. We will rebuild our country’s ageing infrastructure and put in place social programmes to aid Bahamians young and old especially during difficult Wednesday, 22nd June 2016 times,” Dr Minnis said.

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I can tell you, the support from the average person on the street as he walks around in these communities has been overwhelming.

Tremendously encouraging, tremendously supportive.

“And so I have no doubt that come 2016, 2017, whenever the (general) elections are called, that Dr Minnis

is going to emerge as the prime minister of this country.”

On Monday, Dr Minnis said he has no doubt that when his organisation convenes its highly anticipated convention he will remain the FNM’s chief.

Following the morning session of the House of As-

sembly, Dr Minnis did not seem bothered by the news, expressing certainty and repeating his newly coined campaign slogan that everyone would “Roc wit doc.”

If the event goes as Dr Minnis has confidently predicted, it will be the third time that he has been voted into the party’s top post.

GN-1760

PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 22, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

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Clinton warns that Trump would plunge economy into recession COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that Donald Trump would send the US economy back into recession, warning his “reckless” approach would hurt workers still trying to recover from the 2008 economic turbulence.

Clinton’s address in Ohio, one of the most important battleground states, sought to define Trump as little more than a con man, whose ignorance and ego would tank the global economy, bankrupt Americans and risk the country’s future.

“Every day we see how reckless and careless Trump is. He’s proud of it,” the Democratic presidential candidate said.

“Well, that’s his choice. Except when he’s asking to be our president. Then it’s our choice.”

The speech was similar to one earlier this month in San Diego in which Clinton tried to undercut the Republican candidate’s foreign policy credentials. This time, at an alternative high school in Columbus, she questioned whether Trump has the temperament to guide the economy and repeatedly pointed to his business record as evidence of how he would treat small businesses and working families.

“Just like he shouldn’t have his finger on the button, he shouldn’t have his hands on our economy,” Clinton said.

Her speech included stinging one-liners, including a takedown of Trump’s bestselling books.

“He’s written a lot of books about business. But they all seem to end at Chapter 11,” she said, in an allusion to the US bankruptcy code.

Trump responded on Twitter as Clinton delivered her address, writing in one tweet: “How can Hillary run the economy when she can’t even send emails without putting entire nation at risk?”

He appeared to be referring to Clinton blending her personal and official emails on a homebrew server in her house, while she was secretary of state.

The businessman later appeared to embrace one of Clinton’s attack lines, writing: ‘I am ‘the king of debt.’ That has been great for me as a businessman, but is bad for the country. I made a fortune off of debt, will fix US.” Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said Clinton was “the last person qualified” to talk about improving the economy, pointing to “eight years of disastrous Obama policies.”

Clinton used Trump’s own statements

to undercut his economic credentials, citing remarks he made that US could sell off assets, default on its debt and that wages are too high. She also repeated a comment he made that pregnant employees are an “inconvenience”.

Clinton said financial markets often “rise and fall” on comments by presidential candidates. Suggesting the United States could default on its debt could cause a “global panic,” she added.

She also seized on a report Monday by Moody’s Analytics which found Trump’s plans would lead to a “lengthy recession,” costing nearly 3.5 million American jobs.

The analysis by Moody’s Mark Zandi, a Clinton donor and former economic adviser to Republican Sen. John McCain’s 2008 campaign, predicted Trump’s approach would swell the federal debt as the US economy becomes more isolated by less trade and cross-border immigration.

Trump has pointed to trade as a major difference with Clinton, saying last week that her support of past trade deals, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, has cost the country “millions of jobs.”

He also has assailed her promotion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as Obama’s secretary of state as a sell-out of US workers. Clinton announced her opposition to the TPP last October, saying it failed to meet her test of providing good jobs, raising wages and protecting national security.

Brushing it aside, Clinton said there was a difference between “getting tough on trade” and “recklessly starting trade wars”. She noted that many of Trump’s products are made in countries like China, Mexico, Turkey, India and Slovenia.

Bolstered by more than $40m in television advertising, Clinton and her Democratic allies are trying to use this period before next month’s Democratic National Convention to disqualify Trump among moderate voters on the economy and prevent him from successfully wooing working-class voters in battleground states like Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Fundraising reports filed Monday showed Clinton with a big advantage, starting the month with $42m in the bank compared with Trump’s $1.3m.

Clinton was expected to talk about “ambitious new goals” for the economy Wednesday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

By Ken Thomas of the Associated Press

Applying price control regardless EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE spectacle of the Price Control Commission (PCC) visiting and demonising businesses in the press has recommenced, but with a twist.

This time, the accusation is food stores have not reduced prices on items that the import taxes were dropped or reduced on as at June 1, 2016.

So the omnipotent PCC (OPCC) is going to solve this by amending the Price Control Act and FORCE merchants to reduce the price of these items.

Most businesses work on a set profit margin but they cannot be expected to reduce the price on inventory that was already on site before the reductions in import tax. Is the OPCC going to refund the taxes paid on the inventory on hand?

Did the OPCC inquire as to how much inventory was on hand before the changes were made so they could judge how long it might be before the reduction in taxes is reflected in the price?

Should the OPCC con-

sider that prices of the goods might have increased so landed costs on newer inventory is higher?

Making accusations intended to embarrass merchants is not only petty it incites some consumers that do not understand pricing mechanisms.

Everyone is a consumer and sees and feels the ever increasing price of goods and services; and everyone also feels the ever increasing burden of higher taxes and regulations by the Government, yet the OPCC remains silent on the latter point. The taxpayer is, as usual, the forgotten man.

In all this though, the consumer is sovereign.

They don’t have to pay the price being asked if they believe the store is overcharging. Fascism, or government force, is not the answer, purchasing the item elsewhere is the civilised thing to do.

The only thing price controls do to food items here is cause merchants to increase margins on non controlled items as gross profit is key.

In fact it does not even control the rise in prices of con-

trolled items.

Just compare the price of milk or cheese from 5 years ago to today and your answer is self evident.

Price Controls are simply irrelevant in spite of the OPCC’s omnipotence to exert its will by force.

Dr. Walter Williams once noted that “…Despite the disastrous history of price controls, politicians never manage to resist tampering with prices – that’s not a flattering observation of their learning abilities.”

In the final, prices should be determined by the market. A market free of coercion where voluntary exchange takes place. If one party is unhappy about the trade, they can walk away.

Try to do that with your goods at Customs if you think their rate is too high.

But, to paraphrase the Chairman of the Price Control Commission, regardless of the lack of logic, price controls will still be used in this country.

RICK LOWE Nassau, June 21, 2016.

Mitchell living in La La Land EDITOR, The Tribune AFTER declaring that he will dedicate his 2017 election campaign to the fight of women’s right, Fox Hillians should shout: ‘’Earth to Fred Mitchell, you and your PLP colleagues please wake up from your La La Land dream and address the real issues affecting the Bahamian people!’’

Mitchell needs to get over the embarrassing referendum loss his government suffered. Get over it, sir.

The economy has contracted over the past two years, tens of thousands of Bahamians are on the unemployment line while Baha Mar sits there on Cable Beach rotting.

Mr Mitchell, can you tell us when will Baha Mar open so that the 2,000 Bahamians who

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net were let go will get their jobs back?

Mr Mitchell, there are hardly any jobs on Grand Bahama. Young women on that island are resorting to prostitution to make ends meet. Sir, while the cost of living continues to increase exponentially, salaries have remained stagnant. Coupled with high unemployment, Mr Mitchell, are there thousands who are behind in their mortgage payments?

Mr Mitchell, I know of at least four families who have lost their homes to foreclosure in the past year. The mortgage relief programme that your leader recently mentioned in Parliament,

do you know when it will come on stream? Further, sir, when will your administration address the murder crisis? I asked because there have been 515 murders under your government’s watch up to today.

Mr Mitchell, as you can see, women’s rights are not high on the list of priorities for average Bahamians, including most women.

Therefore, sir, we would deeply appreciate it if you focus your election campaign on pertinent issues instead of women’s rights.

This would go a long way in convincing Bahamians that the PLP is not out of touch with the eternal hell they have been catching over the past four years.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER 2.0 June 21, 2016

Strange bedfellows EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE saying that politics makes strange bedfellows aptly applies to the current political soap opera unfolding within the FNM between Dr Hubert Minnis and the six MPs who are pushing for his removal as leader.

Butler-Turner and Rollins have very little in common, yet the two have found common ground in blackmailing Minnis into calling for an early convention.

While Rollins has launched a series of public irrational tirades against Minnis, Butler-Turner has been a bit more stealth in her attacks against her leader.

Her surrogates have and continue to relentless print broadsides against Minnis’ leadership of the FNM in the dailies.

In 2013, Rollins, who was a PLP, was slapped by Butler-Turner, who was at that time FNM deputy leader.

Butler-Turner alleged that Rollins whispered inappropriate words to her.

At the time of the incident, no one would have guessed in a million years that the two would be con-

niving to bring about Minnis’ undoing a mere three years later.

No one could have foreseen at the time the two working together as a team to achieve the common goal of wresting power away from Minnis.

Leading up to the election in 2012 and a year-and-ahalf after, Rollins had nothing positive to say about the FNM and its leadership, particularly Butler-Turner.

Now the two seem to be two peas in a pod.

Whereas the two couldn’t stand each other in 2013, and even as recent as November 2015 when ButlerTurner was conspicuously absent from a press conference called by Minnis to formally introduce Rollins and Renward Wells as new FNMs, the two have made a sudden 180 degree turnaround in their relationship.

We in the unofficial Minnis for PM Campaign 2017 are convinced Butler-Turner, who is allegedly being backed by Brent Symonette and other prominent FNMs, had persuaded Rollins to turn his back on Minnis, despite only being an FNM member for seven months.

Rollins’ Judas Iscariot betrayal of Minnis suggests that he is an unstable politician who cannot be trusted by anyone. ButlerTurner and her camp are well aware of Rollins’ instability, but are prepared to turn a blind eye in pursuit of their common objective in destroying Minnis.

Moving forward, we Minnisites will mobilise ourselves by circling the wagon around Minnis. We have had enough of sitting back while Simon Front Porch, the Graduate, the media and its darling, Butler-Turner, unfairly attack Minnis.

We are done turning the other cheek. We anticipate a brutal campaign leading up to convention in late July when various factions will take off their gloves.

It is expected to be a political bloodbath. We hope we are wrong. However, for those who are planning on fighting Minnis, we Minnisites will fight back.

We will not be backing down.

The unofficial Minnis for PM Campaign 2017.

NO NAME Nassau, June 19, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, PAGE 5

Group questions any change in Biblical basis for marriage

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

SAVE Our Bahamas, the group that opposed the fourth referendum bill, has questioned the basis for this country to “trample” upon the Preamble to the Constitution and “throw out” the Bible as the foundation for marriage.

The group was responding to Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen, who last week said the judiciary is likely to face challenges in determining whether same-sex marriages are legal.

She further pointed to “difficulties” inherent in the existing marriage laws that do not present any provision that parties to a marriage must be male and female.

Arguably, Dame Anita said the laws of The Bahamas do not discriminate on the basis of sex and facilitate not only marriages of every description but also consummation of

SAVE Our Bahamas committee member Pastor Lyall Bethel pictured during the referendum build-up. the same.

However, her opinions of this country’s current laws pertaining to marriage were branded as an attempt to steal the thunder and celebration of what is considered a colossal victory for traditional values and Christian standards, according

to Save Our Bahamas.

In the lead up to the constitutional referendum, the group urged Bahamians to vote against the fourth proposed constitutional change insisting that it was a veiled attempt by the government to legalise same-sex marriages.

“Even though the agen-

da intended to fast track same sex-marriage in The Bahamas has been derailed by the deafening ‘no’ vote in the June 7, 2016 constitutional referendum, operatives are digging deep within their legal war-chests to create new grounds to espouse their goal of desanctifying marriage in The Bahamas,” the group said in a press statement yesterday.

“Recent statements by Dame Anita Allen suggest that ‘now is the time’ for The Bahamas to reconstruct a new definition for marriage to include samesex couples.

“We simply ask, on what basis do we trample upon the Preamble of our Constitution and throw out the Bible which has been the foundation for solemnising marriages in The Bahamas? Obviously, no consideration was given to the overwhelming four to one defeat of Constitutional (Amendment) Bill four to insert ‘sex’ in Article 26 (3) of our Constitution. Since

the referendum, it has now become clearer to all that bill four was a covert strategy in support of same-sex marriage and the global homosexual agenda which is being championed by agencies of the United Nations.”

The group added: “Save Our Bahamas stands with the 65,696 voters who exercised their constitutional right to vote ‘no’ against same-sex marriage, clearly reaffirming our national commitment to an abiding respect for Christian values for both now and the future of our nation.

“Together, we stand resolute to protect the democracy of our nation by not allowing the changing social and secular humanistic philosophy of a few to dictate the moral conscience of the masses.”

Given the various challenges relating to the existing law, Dame Anita last week suggested that both the Marriage Act and the Matrimonial Causes Act require “reconstructing” to meet the needs of a chang-

ing society.

She also suggested that the Bahamas amend its Constitution similar to the way Jamaica did in 2008, in declaring that no marriage other than between a man and a woman is recognised and of legal effect. But this, she said, may similarly be susceptible to a constitutional challenge.

She said the country must choose what it wants to do in deciding the definition of marriage.

And after the highly controversial failed June 7 gender equality referendum – which saw a wave of pushback to question four that sought to prevent discrimination based on sex or being male or female – Dame Anita said this question neither opened nor closed the door to same-sex marriages.

Giving the eighth annual Eugene Dupuch Distinguished Lecture last week, Dame Anita stressed that her views were not endorsed by the Court of Appeal and were personal.

TRIBUTES PAID AFTER DEATH OF FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYER

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL) are grieving today after the sudden death of one of their women memberse while at practice.

According to reports, 22-year-old Minouche “Mimi” Jean-Charles, running back for the Lady Lions, died after experiencing a seizure on the field.

Dozens of tributes from women’s flag football teams in The Bahamas as well as some abroad poured in for the woman many described as “loving but feisty.”

On its Facebook page, the BFFL extended condolences to JeanCharles’ family as well as the RBC Lady Lions.

“On behalf of the executive board and all members of the Bahamas Flag Football League, we wish to send our thoughts and prayers to the family of Minouche Jean-Charles, and the Lady Lions on her passing. Death is the heartache no one can heal, memories are keepsakes no one can steal, beautiful memories are all we have left of the ones we loved and will never forget,” the statement said.

Jean-Charles was graduated from Government High School in 2012.

A COLLAGE of pictures showing Minouche ‘Mimi’ Jean-Charles in action playing flag football.

BAMSI BUILDING DESTROYED IN FIRE TO BE REBUILT AS CO-ED DORM THE fire damaged male dorm at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI) in North Andros will be rebuilt as a co-ed structure, Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday.

However, he did not give a timeline for construction and completion of the building.

The dorm was destroyed by an arson attack in January 2015.

Speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday during his budget contribution, Mr Davis said BAMSI was

scheduled to be completed in two phases.

Phase one called for the construction of all essential facilities, all of which are near completion.

According to Mr Davis, BAMSI’s administration building is 98 per cent completed. The contractor, Brokell Construction Co Ltd is said to be completing punch list works as building control inspections are still ongoing.

The campus’ cafeteria is 93 per cent completed.

The contractor, Sydmar Construction Co Ltd is completing finishings and

mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works, inclusive of air conditioning and fire protection work.

BAMSI’s classrooms are said to be 99 per cent completed, with the contractor, Maudlyn Investments Ltd carrying out a list of change order jobs as building control inspections are being finalised there.

As a result of a suspended contract, the lecture theatre at BAMSI stands only 20 per cent completed.

The contract with Gimp Construction Services Ltd was suspended to allow for re-design of the project to

RADIO SHOW TO PUT FOCUS ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WITH THE deadline for public consultation on the long-awaited Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) fast approaching, two leading authorities will appear on a popular local radio show tomorrow afternoon.

Attorney Lemarque Campbell and Matthew Aubry, representatives of Citizens for a Better Bahamas (CBB), will appear on the Save The Bays radio show, ‘Voice of the Bays: The Environment Speaks’, from 5pm on Love 97.5, which will air live in Nassau and Grand Bahama.

Joseph Darville, radio show host and chairman of Save The Bays, congratulated CBB after it was named the official national contact

for Transparency International, a global entity with a mandate to identify areas of corruption among government, businesses and individuals while ensuring ongoing transparency and accountability through implementation of worldwide conventions.

“On behalf of Save The Bays, we are very pleased that through Citizens for a Better Bahamas, Transparency International will have a presence in The Bahamas,” said Mr Darville.

“FOIA is a crucial pillar of Save The Bays and we look forward to supporting, assisting and wherever possible aligning resources with Citizens for a Better Bahamas to make those who rep-

resent us accountable and ensure transparency among those acting on behalf of the people of this nation.”

Mr Aubry and Mr Campbell will discuss the organisation’s role and share findings which came out of multiple town hall meetings during the public consultation for FOIA held around the country and discussions with public and private shareholders, including representatives from the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employees Confederation on the consultation process.

The final town hall meeting before the deadline will be at Governor’s Harbour Primary School, Eleuthera, on Thursday, June 30.

expand the building’s use.

The Ministry of Works is working to conclude those revisions.

“The male dormitory, which was destroyed by fire was demolished by Gaitor’s Trucking,” he said. “The

contract with Paradigm Construction Co was determined. Diamond Consultants were engaged to prepare construction drawings for a new co-ed dormitory and the project is now being prepared for tender.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 22, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Nottage: Crime down by 29% from page one Crimes against the person that saw an increase in the specified period include manslaughter, which jumped by 100 per cent; unlawful sexual intercourse which rose by 10 per cent, and a 50 per cent increase in attempted robbery.

In the area of crimes against the property, he said there has also been a 48 per cent decrease in burglary; a 34 per cent decrease in housebreaking; an eight per cent decrease in shop-breaking; a 35 per cent decrease in stealing; a 39 per cent decrease in

stealing from vehicles and a 17 per cent decrease in stolen vehicles.

“Overall crime has decreased from 2012 to 2015,” Dr Nottage said, showing graphs that indicate crime has declined from 11,706 incidents in 2012 to 8,475 incidents in 2015.

The Bain Town & Grants Town MP stressed that the government still will not be satisfied until a much more dramatic reduction in violent crime occurs even as he released statistics that indicate crime is trending downward.

Dr Nottage has sometimes been described as tone-deaf for how he dis-

cusses crime trends, struggling, some say, to tread the line between admitting that violent crime remains one of the country’s most significant problems and insisting that the ongoing strategies authorities are employing are having a positive affect on curbing crime levels.

He acknowledged yesterday the fear many Bahamians have about crime and he pledged to communicate more often with the public about police efforts to address the problem.

“Although a downward trend indicates our efforts are having an impact on crime overall, we are fo-

cused on addressing several categories of violent crime, particularly murders, rape and armed robberies,” he said.

“We mourn with the families of those that have been impacted by violent crime. We have not lost touch with the level of fear and frustration many Bahamians currently experience concerning the unacceptable level of crime in our nation.

“And the public will be hearing from us more regularly now about crime trends and our efforts to address them and the impact of our responses.”

He added: “A week ago

THE BODY of the victim shot and killed in Woods Alley is taken from the scene.

when I indicated to a reporter who asked about crime that overall there was a decline in crime, members of the opposition took the opportunity in and out of this place to suggest that I was saying something that was unsympathetic to the crimes that are going on.

“Let me acknowledge as I did with the reporter that we are not satisfied with the results of the incidents of crimes, particularly serious crimes like homicides, like armed robberies, even though armed robberies are down. We are working diligently to bring crime down.”

As Dr Nottage spoke, seated members of the opposition indicated that they were not satisfied with the government’s efforts.

“Work a little harder,” one said, adding: “One person just got shot in the head this morning.”

The Progressive Liberal Party campaigned on crime at the 2012 election, drawing attention to “490 plus” murders in the five years under the Free National Movement government.

Yesterday’s fatal shooting off Market Street took the total of homicides in four years and a month under the Christie administration to 515.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUSPECT SHOT DEAD ON DAY OF TWO MURDERS from page one

“We want to send an appeal to members of the public and persons living in the community to assist us with this investigation.

This is a busy community so whatever information you have please share it with police to advance this investigation. Based on our initial door-to-door inquiries, we feel good that we are on the right track to bring this matter to a swift closure.”

Police have not released the identity of the victim but The Tribune understands he is Kenyari Lightbourne of King Street.

Lightbourne was arrested by police in April for domestic violence and was shot a few weeks after he was released from custody.

In the second incident, shortly before 10pm, police responded to reports of gunshots being fired in the

area of Wulff Road, east of Winsdor Park.

Once on the scene, officers found a dead man who appeared to be in his late 20s lying in the street with gunshot wounds to the body.

Head of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said the victim was riding a bicycle west on Wulff Road when unknown persons began firing shots at him.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Chief Supt Fernander said police do not have a motive for the shooting but there is nothing to suggest it is connected to the homicide which occurred Tuesday morning.

Chief Supt Fernander, who was recently promoted to CDU chief, sent a warning to all criminals and would be criminals that police are coming for them.

He said: “I also want to take this opportunity to

send a stern warning to criminals in the various communities. I believe now that the people are tired of gunshots and people are tired of persons selling drugs and the criminal activity in the various communities. I just want to assure the members of the public and the good citizens in these areas that we are working for you and to the criminals, we will continue to come after you and we will put you where you belong at Fox Hill Prison.

“As the new commander of the Central Detective Unit, you won’t see me in a suit, you will see me just like this because the fight is not in the office, the fight is out here and that will continue.”

Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328TIPS.

CLAYTON FERNANDER, Chief Superintendent of CDU, speaking to the media at the murder scene yesterday morning.

$16M LOAN TO COB TO SUPPORT MOVE TO UNIVERSITY CANCELLED from page one

The email also said that consistent with terms and conditions of the loan agreement, the request for proposal (RFP) selection process for design services was subsequently “annulled.”

The Tribune spoke with Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald yesterday for clarity on the matter, however he referred this newspaper to State Minister for

Finance Michael Halkitis who declined to comment when asked.

The Tribune managed to contact COB officials by email on the matter, however an official response was not returned up to press time.

In 2014, the Christie administration moved a resolution in the House of Assembly for the government to borrow $16.1m from the CDB that was expected to cover 70 per cent of the $23.2m in costs to cover

the first phase of COB’s transition to university status. The investment was expected to cover land acquisition and external works.

The interest rate on the agreement stood at 4.1 per cent, and was payable in 48 quarterly installments or 12 years, Mr Halkitis said at the time.

Mr Halkitis also told parliamentarians at the time that the government would fund the remaining 30 per cent of the process which

totals $7,020,000. He also said there was a five-year grace period before the payments begin.

In September 2015, this newspaper reported how poor auditing practices at COB had prevented the institution from using the funds from the $16.1m loan.

The Tribune reported at the time how the college was at least four years behind in audits when the Christie administration moved to borrow

the funds.

Former COB Council Chairman Alfred Sears told The Tribune last year that COB had since completed two of those four years of audits and said the progress had been “satisfactory” to the CDB. Aside from preventing the college from accessing the money, COB’s failure to complete audits had also put the college in violation of the College of the Bahamas Act, which says that COB’s accounts must be

inspected by an auditor appointed by COB’s Council every year.

In October 2015, COB President Dr Rodney Smith said that although the poor audit practices had prevented COB from drawing down on the loan, it did not hamper the college in its transition to university status.

COB was initially expected to transition into a university in July 2015. A new transition date has not been set.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, PAGE 7

20 years in jail for American who killed his father-in-law

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AMERICAN convict Michael Bradley was sentenced on Tuesday by a Supreme Court judge to 20 years imprisonment for killing his 71-year-old father-in-law following an argument at the family’s home in Hawksbill, Grand Bahama.

As Bradley, 31, was being led away by officers outside the courthouse, his two young children called out to him. “Goodbye, Daddy,” they said.

Dawn Bradley, his sister, Aida, his ex-wife, and the couple’s two children watched sadly as Bradley was whisked away into a police van for transfer to New Providence for his incarceration at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Because Justice Estelle Gray-Evans took into consideration the time of one year and five months already spent on remand, Bradley will instead serve 18 years and seven months in prison.

In January 2015, Bradley stabbed Sundiata Karamo in his home after the victim came to the assistance of his daughter as the couple fought.

Bradley, who is from Detroit, Michigan, moved to Grand Bahama with his

MICHAEL Bradley is escorted from the Supreme Court in Freeport yesterday morning.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS wife and had only been living with her family for six months prior to the incident.

He was initially charged with murder. However in November 2015, during a pre-trial hearing in the Supreme Court, Bradley pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, which was accepted by the Crown.

Before passing sentence, the court heard from Wynette Goodridge of the Department of Probation and Welfare Services who compiled a probation report on Bradley, and also from psychiatrist Dr John Dillet by way of video conferencing.

According to the proba-

tion report, Bradley had developed a drinking problem at a young age following the death of his mother to cancer. He was a binge drinker and was hospitalised for alcohol poisoning while living in the US and was admitted into an alcoholic rehab programme.

Ms Goodridge said Bradley could not remember killing his father-in-law.

Bradley had been described by his ex-wife as being mentally abusive, argumentative and someone with male chauvinistic qualities who used the Bible to justify it.

Prior to the killing, Bradley had been drinking heavily. He and his wife got into an argument and the victim

went to her aid.

Ms Goodridge interviewed Latisha Karamo, the wife of the deceased.

She said that Mrs Karamo felt that Bradley deserved an extended custodial sentence for what he had done and felt he was a danger to society.

On the other hand, Dawn Bradley described her brother as a loving individual, and attributed his drinking problem to the death of their mother. Ms Bradley said her brother was not typically a violent person, but felt that a custodial sentence needed to be imposed.

Dr Dillet said that Bradley did exhibit traits that border on “paranoia and imaginative thinking,” but said these did not meet the full criteria for schizophrenia.

Prosecutor Olivia Blatch suggested a sentence between 18 and 35 years based on the aggravating factors.

She noted that Bradley was unemployed and had attempted to strangle his wife and that her father had tried to protect her.

She also noted that Bradley had expressed no remorse or taken responsibility for his actions.

Later, Bradley was given a chance to speak. He stood up, faced those seated in the courtroom and apologised for what he had done.

“I am sorry for the situation that occurred,” Brad-

ley said yesterday. “I would like to apologise to my wife, my sister, and children. I am genuinely sorry for what I did. I did a lot of stupid stuff. I take full responsibility for what happened.

“I have given my children a bad name. Dawn, I am sorry for putting you all through this stuff and coming out here. I am genuinely sorry for what I did and for putting my family through this. I deserve whatever punishment that the judge imposes,” he said.

Attorney Mario Grey said his client is truly sorry and had spoken to Mrs Karamo three weeks ago and apologised. He said that Bradley is not a violent person and was under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.

He noted his client grew up in the US and had one infraction with the law as a result of his alcoholism.

Mr Grey said his client had accepted responsibility by pleading guilty to the offence at the outset avoiding a lengthy trial.

He raised an issue with two points put forth by the prosecution. Mr Grey said Bradley had just moved from the US and had only been living in Grand Bahama for six months and did not have a work permit in order for him to have gainful employment.

Mr Grey also said that his client did take responsibil-

ity for what he had done by pleading guilty to the crime at the first opportunity.

In passing sentence, Justice Evans said she not only took note of the probation and psychiatric reports, but also read the statements made by Dawn Bradley and Aida Bradley, as well as by the convict to the police shortly after the killing.

“I agree with counsel that Bradley pleaded guilty, and that he has accepted responsibility for his action,” she said.

“I also take note of the fact that you have previously, and today apologised to the family.”

She added: “I am mindful that the victim was a family member which brings with it additional challenges to other family members. I am also mindful of the fact that alcohol played a major role in the events that unfold on that fateful morning.”

“Mr Bradley, you made the right decision by acknowledging your wrong and taking responsibility for your action. There must be some penalty. Your father-in-law is dead and died at your hands. It is my prayer while you are in prison…without the use of alcohol, you will use the time to get some psychiatric help and counselling…so that at the end of your time in prison when you can come out and make a meaningful contribution.”

45 YEARS FOR McCARTNEY MURDER, SEVEN YEARS FOR MANSLAUGHTER

from page one

However, the judge noted that the seriousness of the offences had to be balanced against the fact both convicts were young and had no prior criminal history when the October 2013 incident occurred.

“The Crown has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that this murder is the worst of the worst or that there’s no reasonable prospect for reform,” Senior Justice Isaacs said.

“The murder, however, seemed senseless and callous - the taking of a life without hesitation.”

The judge noted that Curry also denied involvement in the matter but “expressed sorrow for loss of life and hopes she will be vindicated on appeal.”

He noted that she, like Edwards, had no prior convictions.

“Curry was a young 19-year-old with no criminal history when this incident occurred,” the judge said. “From the evidence, she may not have formed the intention to kill Mr McCartney, but she was convicted of armed robbery during which Mr McCartney was

THORNE EDWARDS, left, and Lyndera Curry pictured outside previous court appearances. killed. In fact, this led to a jury took three hours to reconviction for manslaugh- turn verdicts for each of the ter. Taking into account all accused persons after they of the circumstances for the had been excused to deliboffence and of the offender, erate on the evidence. and I am mindful that she Edwards was unanimoushad no firearm, I sentence ly convicted of murder and Curry to seven years on the was found guilty of armed manslaughter and five years robbery on a majority verfor armed robbery.” dict of 9-3. Curry was acEdwards and Curry, quitted of murder but found along with Okell Farrington guilty of the lesser charge of and Sumya Ingraham, were manslaughter by 11-1. The on trial for nearly two same count was returned weeks concerning McCa- on her conviction for armed rtney’s murder and armed robbery. robbery.

Farrington and Ingraham On December 14, 2015, a were acquitted of murder,

NO EVIDENCE OF CLOSE RANGE SHOT, PATHOLOGIST SAYS

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

FORENSIC pathologist Dr Caryn Sands told a Supreme Court jury yesterday that she saw no evidence of close range fire after performing an autopsy on a murdered man.

Dr Sands testified that from the examination she did on August 29, 2014, the cause of death came from the two gun shot wounds the victim sustained to his head and back.

Garvin Pratt, 21, and Eduardo Carey, 36, are on trial before Justice Bernard Turner in connection with the shooting death of Delano Brice.

Brice was shot in the neck during a drive-by shooting at Quakoo Street where a repast was held on August 23, 2014. He died in hospital four days later.

Pratt and Carey pleaded

not guilty to the murder charge they face when they were formally arraigned in the Supreme Court on January 16, 2015.

They have retained Romona Farquharson-Seymour and Tonique Lewis to represent them against the allegation.

Anthony Delaney and Timothy Bailey are prosecuting the case.

Dr Sands said yesterday that there was an entrance wound to the left-rear side of the victim’s head and the bullet for the wound exited to the left side of the face.

She also noted an entrance wound to the back that fractured the cervical and thoracic spine.

The injuries, she said, caused swelling in the brain, breathing complications and significant internal bleeding.

The trial resumes on Monday, June 27.

manslaughter and armed robbery. Businessman and community activist Terry Delancy, who had been accused of being an accessory to the murder after the fact, was acquitted of the charge following the close of the prosecution’s case for legal reasons.

It was alleged that Edwards shot McCartney in the face after he became involved in an argument between Curry and the victim. The prosecution maintained that McCartney was crushed when Farrington, Ingraham and Curry allegedly rolled over his body as they fled the scene in the victim’s Hummer. It was alleged that Edwards ran away after the shooting.

In a hearing a week ago, trial prosecutor Roger Thompson said the murder “is a fit and proper case for the imposition of the maximum penalty for murder with respect to Thorne Edwards and the maximum penalty for manslaughter with respect to Lyndera Curry.”

“Thorne Edwards shot McCartney to the head while the girlfriend drove the vehicle over his body and the actions of both convicted led to the death of

the deceased,” Mr Thompson added.

“Mr McCartney did not die immediately and he must have suffered excruciating pain. He did not do anything to provoke the attack. They could have robbed him without shooting him in the head and rolling over his body. The convicts appeared to have planned this killing,” the prosecutor said.

Geoffrey Farquharson, Edwards’ lawyer for the sentencing phase of trial, responded that the “transcripts do not indicate the motive for the incident that took place.”

Mr Farquharson referred to the authority case of Tremmingham, which notes that the court has to be satisfied that a killing meets the worst of the worst threshold in order to be moved to impose the death penalty.

The lawyer further stressed that the Crown had not proved that Edwards, whom by a probation officer’s own report had been a productive citizen up to the time of conviction, was not beyond rehabilitation if released from prison after a specified number of years.

Mr Farquharson ac-

knowledged the 2011 amendments to the Penal Code but said they were nothing more than “statutory guidance” for the judiciary, which has unfettered discretionary powers under the Constitution.

Sonia Timothy, lawyer for Lyndera Curry, said that based on the evidence at trial, the actions of her client amounted to manslaughter by negligence.

Such an offence, she said last week, carried a fiveyear prison term on the law books. Ms Timothy also noted that the armed robbery conviction in her client’s circumstance did not concern the use of a firearm, as she had no weapon.

She also asked the court to bear in mind the favourable probation report presented that painted Curry as a previously employed and productive citizen and a mother of a three-yearold child.

Both attorneys for the convicts informed the court of their client’s intent to appeal the convictions within 21 days and asked that a note be made on their files that their remand status not be changed.

The judge obliged the request.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 22, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN AT RANFURLY

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he Ranfurly Homes for Children has been a safe haven for thousands of Bahamian children since 1956. The Home provides a safe, structured environment for children who have been orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned.

YOU can make a difference in the lives of the children at Ranfurly. With your support children can have nutritious food, warm beds and a safe environment where they can discover the joy of being children. For years the children living and learning at Ranfurly have made great social and academic strides.

Their further development requires additional support in the form of a Transitional Home, planned for construction on the Ranfurly property.

This residence will cater to teenagers and young adults who are beyond school age, but need accommodation while they find work and gain independence from the Home.

We look forward to your continued support in this worthwhile endeavour.

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For more information visit: www.ranfurlyhome.org Please “Like” us on Facebook Ranfurly Home for Children, Mackey Street P.O. Box 1413 Nassau, Bahamas 242-393-3115

THE THETRIBUNE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 2016, PAGE Wednesday, June 22,22, 2016, PAGE A99

SMARTWATCHES

TECHTALK • A FACE representing “rolling on the floor laughing” and a hand taking a selfie are among 72 new emojis that will soon make their way to your smartphone.

The California-based Unicode Consortium, which controls emoji standards, has released a list of the new characters. Other highlights include emojis representing a pregnant woman and Mrs Claus.

One proposed emoji was that of a rifle as part of a group of emojis representing Olympic sports before the Rio Games this summer. However, Buzzfeed News reported that Apple and Microsoft both argued against including the rifle.

ARE GETTING SMARTER . . . SLOWLY APPLE and Android smartwatches are getting better as their makers fix the frustrations of many early adopters - but the improvements are small steps in a long journey to convince people they need a computer on their wrist.

The Apple Watch, for instance, promises faster app launching and a one-button 911 call. Android Wear watches will soon let you track gym workouts such as weight training.

Both systems will let you swipe-write texts with your finger. All are nifty features - just nothing likely to turn a smartwatch into the day-to-day necessity a smartphone has become.

Apple and Google are scheduled to push out free software updates in the coming months.

APPLE WATCH FASTER: With the upcoming watchOS 3 software, your favourite apps will launch automatically and load data in the background. You no longer have to wait several seconds for the app to start up and retrieve data from the phone.

EASIER NAVIGATION: Apple Watch currently offers favourite apps through Glance, but it gives you limited information and works only from the watch face. The Glance replacement, called Dock, gets you full apps from any screen with a press of the side button. Meanwhile, swiping up will soon get you frequently used settings, and message replies will be possible without first hitting “reply.”

BEYOND VOICE: With Scribble, you’ll use your finger to write

characters on the screen one at a time. The watch translates them into computerised text. You’ll still have the current options for voice or preconfigured replies like “yes” and “no”.

CATCHING UP: You’ll be able to skip the password screen on Macs when wearing your Apple Watch, which will also let you challenge friends on fitness, something Fitbit and other fitness devices already offer.

NEW FEATURES: With SOS, you can hold the side button for a few seconds to call 911 - or the equivalent when travelling abroad.

The watch will also message your emergency contact and display key information such as your allergies on the screen. A new watch app will also guide you through breathing exercises to help reduce stress.

BOTTOM LINE: Apple Watch has come a long way in 14 months and its starting price has dropped to $300. But it’s still tough to explain to friends and family why they need one.

ANDROID WEAR FASTER: The upcoming Android Wear 2.0 software will let apps run directly on the watch, so they can communicate directly with remote servers through the watch’s Wi-Fi or cellular connection, if it has one. Information might arrive faster because it doesn’t need to go through the phone first. Apps need to be updated to take advantage of this standalone capability.

VOLKSWAGEN TO LAUNCH MORE ELECTRIC CARS AFTER DIESEL SCANDAL GERMAN car manufacturer Volkswagen plans to ramp up its offerings of electric vehicles as it fights to bounce back from a scandal over diesel cars rigged to cheat on emissions tests.

The electric campaign is part of a wide-ranging review of the company’s strategy that also includes increasing profitability, investing in new ways of getting around that do not necessarily involve owning a car, and making the company’s management more open and trustworthy.

CEO Matthias Mueller said the company plans to introduce more than 30 electric-powered vehicles by 2025, and to sell between two and three million of them a year. To support that ambitious plan, the company wants to increase its in-house expertise in battery technology. Improving battery range is expected to be a key factor in getting more people to buy electric cars.

The new plan includes a focus on digital mobility, which could include things like ride-sharing or car-sharing based on smartphone apps, for instance.

Mueller said the company would need more electric vehicles to meet increasingly tight government limits on emissions of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas blamed by scientists for global warming, and other pollutants.

He said, however, that the company would keep a major focus on developing and selling internal combustion engines.

Volkswagen bet heavily on diesels to meeting car emissions goals. But that strategy suffered a blow after the company was discovered last September to have met emissions tests using engine control software that turned emission controls on when the car was on a test stand and turned them off in everyday driving.

The company has until June 28 to work out a settlement with US authorities to repair or replace some 500,000 cars with the problematic software. Some 11 million cars were sold with the software worldwide.

It has set aside at least 16.2 billion euros ($18.1 billion) from last year’s earnings to cover the costs of recalls and fixes.

THE Apple Watch and Android Wear.

EASIER NAVIGATION: Currently, you swipe up and down for notifications, but left and right for actions like replies.

The update will eliminate the zigzagging and present everything in one vertical feed. Message notifications will also turn into mini-chat apps.

Currently, your chat notification disappears after you reply, even if you have more to say.

BEYOND VOICE: The watch will now have a full keyboard with predictive texting, similar to phones.

It will also support handwriting similar to Apple’s Scribble. More apps will get pre-configured replies that you can select, and choices will vary based on context. Voice dictation remains an option.

CATCHING UP: Android joins Apple Watch in getting complications on watch faces. There are little bits of customisable data, such

as weather info or stock quotes.

Android Watch apps will also have darker backgrounds, as Apple Watch apps do now, to make the watch less annoying in dark settings like cinemas.

NEW FEATURES: Android Wear will soon support weightlifting, squats and push-ups. And the watch’s redesigned app launcher will make fuller use of circular screens.

BOTTOM LINE: The two-yearold Android Wear system has introduced significant improvements along the way, including the ability to work with iPhones, which mostly limit you to notifications and fitness - there’s no turn-by-turn navigation on the watch, for instance.

The stand-alone capability should change that, giving iPhone users a viable alternative to Apple Watch.

ANICK JESDANUN Associated Press

CHINA DOMINATES GLOBAL SUPERCOMPUTER SPEED LIST

THE Sunway TaihuLight, a new Chinese supercomputer, is seen in Wuxi, eastern China’s Jiangsu Province. A supercomputer from China has topped a global list of the fastest systems for a seventh straight year, and for the first time the winner, Sunway TaihuLight, uses only Chinese-designed processors instead of U.S. technology.

(Li Xiang/Xinhua via AP) A CHINESE supercomputer has topped a list of the world’s fastest computers for the seventh straight year - and for the first time the winner uses only Chinese-designed processors instead of US technology.

Last year’s Chinese winner in the TOP500 ranking maintained by researchers in the United States and Germany slipped to second, followed by a computer at the US government’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

Also this year, China displaced the United States for the first time as the country with the most supercomputers in the top 500 - 167 to 165. Japan was a distant third with 29 systems.

Supercomputers are one of a series of technologies targeted by China’s ruling Communist Party for development and have received heavy financial support. Such systems are used for weather forecasting, designing nuclear weapons, analysing oilfields and other specialised purposes.

“Considering that just 10 years ago, China claimed a mere 28 systems on the

list, with none ranked in the top 30, the nation has come further and faster than any other country in the history of supercomputing,” the TOP500 organisers said in a statement on Monday.

This year’s champion is the Sunway TaihuLight at the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, west of Shanghai, according to TOP500. It was developed

by China’s National Research Center of Parallel Computer Engineering & Technology using entirely Chinese-designed ShenWei processors.

The TaihuLight is capable of 93 petaflops, or quadrillion calculations per second, according to TOP500. It is intended for use in engineering and research including climate, weather, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and data analytics.

Its top speed is about five times that of Oak Ridge’s Titan, which uses Cray, NVIDIA and Opteron technology.

The second-fastest computer, the Tianhe-2 at the National Supercomputer Center in the southern city of Guangzhou, is capable of 33 petaflops. It uses chips made by Intel Corp.

• MICHELLE Obama has joined the social media app Snapchat to promote her forthcoming trip to Africa and Europe to encourage girls’ education.

The White House says the account launched yesterday will make it easy for students to keep tabs on the first lady’s travels.

Follow her at “MichelleObama”.

The US President’s wife plans to spend next week highlighting the fact that an estimated 62 million adolescent girls around the world are not attending school.

• TWITTER is now letting its users post videos that are up to 140 seconds long, an increase from its previous 30-second limit.

The move is part of the social media company’s efforts to attract a broader set of users, some of whom feel confined by its limits on the length of tweets as well as videos. It’s also likely to help users make money from such videos and comes at a time when online videos are becoming increasingly widespread and popular on the platforms of rivals such as Facebook.

Videos will also be longer on Vine, Twitter’s video-sharing social network. Twitter said that it is starting with a “small group” of Vine creators who will “be able to add a video to their Vine, turning the six-second Vine into a trailer for a bigger story”.

• A SOLAR-powered airplane has begun its trans-Atlantic flight on the latest leg of its globe-circling voyage.

The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 took off from John F Kennedy Airport in New York at 2.30am on Monday and is scheduled to land in Seville in Spain tomorrow.

The Solar Impulse 2’s wide wings are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night.

• NINTENDO is putting all of its faith in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” the latest installment of the 30-year action-adventure series starring iconic adventurer Link.

After delaying the title from last year, “Breath of the Wild” is set for release next March for the Wii U console. It will also be available for Nintendo’s yet-tobe-revealed NX system, scheduled to debut in 2017.

The most noticeable change is that Link awakens after a 100-year-long slumber in a freewheeling rendition of Hyrule featuring sweeping vistas, castles, forests, temples and volcanoes. The pointy-eared protagonist won’t be strong or well-equipped enough to reach every point at the outset, but he’s not bound by walls or restricted to a linear story line. The series’ treasure-filled dungeons have been replaced by puzzle-laden shrines.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, June 22, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Voters send a clear message to our political leaders I

F sip-sip is anything to go by, the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is in turmoil as it prepares for the 2017 general election, severely wounded by the recent referendum debacle.

Dismayed by the low turnout and overwhelmingly negative results, party leaders are scrambling to avoid a catastrophic defeat like that suffered by the Free National Movement (FNM) after the 2002 failed referendum. But you wouldn’t know that by reading the newspapers.

As someone once wrote, put a ballot in front of people and they will focus whatever they feel strongly about onto it. It seems clear that, for many, the citizenship referendum had no relationship to their daily lives, so they said “no” with a high level of contempt for the subject, the process and the party in power.

The chief message was political. And the only real difference from the 2002 referendum was that Perry Christie had the sense not to say (as Hubert Ingraham did) “whoever wins the referendum will win the election”.

On the opposition side we have had the spectacle of running battles in the press between MPs and the leadership, the curious intervention of resentful splitters who quit the FNM years ago and a flaming public row among senior FNM figures who are not even involved in frontline politics.

And that is in addition to ongoing sniping from the minority Democratic National Alliance (DNA), which claims it wants a preelection agreement with the FNM to fight the PLP - and seems to have no leadership issues of its own.

This column generally avoids divining political leadership struggles because one must be close to party insiders to obtain useful information, and much of that is self-serving anyway. However, I can offer some homespun observations, now that it’s obvious that matters are coming to a head.

On the surface, there appears to be no significant ideological divide among the presumed PLP leader-

ship contenders.

The traditionalist wing of the party is represented

by Mr Mumble - otherwise known as Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis. Alfred Sears offers a more nuanced political line while Fred Mitchell presents himself as a rabid hardliner. All are lawyers in their 60s who rose to prominence during the first Christie administration (2002-07).

On the FNM side, Dr Hubert Minnis (otherwise known as Dr Malaprop) is a physician who was brought into the last Ingraham administration and was one of the few ministers left standing after the party’s 2012 defeat. He was elected leader by acclamation in the dispirited days following Ingraham’s rushed resignation, with Loretta ButlerTurner as his deputy.

But since then, his political ineptness and failure to take advantage of PLP FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis unveiling his “Roc Wit Doc” slogan in the House of Assembly. missteps has fuelled grow- ment, and offering detailed But the issue of succes- Pindling stepped aside in ing dissatisfaction among alternative policy prescrip- sion in Bahamian politi- 1997 due to ill health. opposition ranks. And the tions on key issues. cal parties has always been Christie suffered his own argument that it is too late For example, simply criti- problematic. It is a process humiliation in 2007, when to change the leadership is cising Parliamentary Com- probably best described by Ingraham returned as FNM weakening by the day. missioner Sherlyn Hall Minnis’ own peculiar term - leader. But he stubbornly Critics say Minnis lacks (who clearly mishandled a quagmire of web. refused to accept any rethe skills to manage the the referendum polling) sponsibility for the loss, factions that make up the is not sufficient. It may be ir Lynden Pindling despite PLP-sponsored surFNM coalition. And the re- unclear whether Hall was was forced into re- veys which said he was the sult has been an ineffective politically directed, but as tirement by politi- main cause. opposition others have cal defeat and illness, after Handsomely re-elected (both with- ‘At the moment, pointed 41 years as party leader in 2012 on a raft of unrein and out- newcomer Dr Andre out, if this and 25 years as the coun- alistic promises, Christie side Parliais repeated try’s maximum leader. The said he would promote new ment). This Rollins - who Minnis in a hotly- previous maximum leader leadership and retire before is not a brought over from the contested - Sir Stafford Sands, of the the end of his current term, good place general defunct United Bahamian something which he has sigPLP - acts as a virtual to be at election the Party - had been forced into nally failed to do. the outset one-man opposition. risk of civil exile (where he died) by the There is said to be a of a criti- But tellingly, Rollins unrest is PLP’s historic 1967 election lot happening behind the cal election high. victory under Sir Lynden’s scenes in PLP-land to move campaign. has said he will not Meanleadership. him on his way. But the In his run on an FNM ticket while, Sir Cecil Wallace-Whit- FNM has been unable to budget ad- if Minnis is re-elected Prime Min- field, who led a breakaway exploit this churn, because dress on Perry faction of the PLP to form it is so preoccupied with its leader at the upcoming ister Monday, Christie the FNM in 1970, was him- own leadership fight.

Minnis re- convention.’ (now in his self forced out as opposition At the moment, newcomferred to “a 70s) has leader in the late 70s by a er Dr Andre Rollins - who firestorm of criticism from given no indication of any serious rupture within the Minnis brought over from without and within”. But plan to step aside as PLP FNM. When Hubert Ingra- the PLP - acts as a virtual significantly, opposition leader - despite fears among ham became FNM leader one-man opposition. But MPs do not point to any many colleagues that his in 1990 and won the gov- tellingly, Rollins has said substantive policy differ- political credibility is totally ernment two years later, he he will not run on an FNM ences. Rather, they argue shredded. As former chair- promised to serve only two ticket if Minnis is re-elected that he has failed to take man Raynard Rigby said terms. That led him to step leader at the upcoming concommand of the party, de- recently, the PLP needs to down in favour of Tommy vention. “I don’t have any spite their efforts to support “reflect, analyse and read- Turnquest before the 2002 dislike for Dr Minnis,” he him. just” to avoid a catastrophic general election (while re- told The Nassau Guardian, What is clear is that, in loss at the polls next year. maining Prime Minister). “but I want to see the FNM the aftermath of the govern“The PLP has to come As it happened, the FNM strengthened and well-posiment’s humiliating defeat in to a final assessment as to suffered a crushing defeat in tioned to take advantage of the Constitutional Referen- (how) it’s going to deal with 2002 at the hands of Chris- the fact that this PLP govdum, the opposition should this question of leadership,” tie, Ingraham’s former law ernment needs to lose the be energetically leveraging Rigby said. “Hopefully the partner who had taken over next election.” growing voter disenchant- party will get it right.” leadership of the PLP after At the FNM convention

S

Photo: Yontalay Bowe next month, Loretta Butler-Turner and Dr Duane Sands will vie to replace Minnis and his deputy Peter Turnquest, arguing that the country is in crisis and at a tipping point. ButlerTurner, in a letter published Monday, says the country needs “a composed, selfdisciplined, articulate, courageous, tough and decisive leader (with) the determination to overcome, the energy to act and the discipline to plan”.

As if answering her call, Minnis’ Facebook page portrays him as “a leader who stood under pressure, with steady and reliable performance, and sober practical judgement”. And Minnis argues that younger voters will “Rock wit Doc”.

To sum up, there appears to be a major groundswell of antipathy towards the PLP, as evidenced by the referendum result. And unless Christie agrees to go with grace, there could easily be infighting. And on the FNM side, no matter who becomes leader, the party will remain badly divided just as the election campaign opens.

As a friend asked me recently: “Does that leave us with the DNA?” • What do you think?

Send comments to lsmith@ tribunemedia.net or visit www.bahamapundit.com

Tornados and waterspouts in New Providence LAST WEEK, Facebook was alive with dramatic images of multiple waterspouts around New Providence.

There were even reports of twisters on land, a rare occurrence in these parts.

This reminded me to look at a pamphlet I was given weeks ago called “Memoranda of the Bahama Tornado of 1850”. It was written to aid “the schools at Grants-Town and BainesTown” by the Rev William Woodcock of St Agnes Chapel and Capt R J Nelson of the Royal Engineers.

Saturday, March 30, 1850, was a day of storms, thunder and lightning, the authors wrote. “Black-fringed clouds hung like a curtain over New Providence” and people “crowded for shelter under the market house”.

At about a quarter past one “a low roaring noise” arose towards the southwest of the town and “the storm descended in the form of a tornado” on the thatchedroof settlements over-the-hill “and proceeded with terrible velocity to the northeast, its path rarely exceeding from 20 to 100 yards in width.

“Whatever stood in this line was destroyed or desolated … and the sky seemed crowded with flying

beams, roofs, furniture and clothes.” Coconut trees and orchards were ripped apart and the roof of St Agnes was damaged. And when the tornado reached the harbour it sank two vessels in its path and transformed into a waterspout before finally disappearing.

Rev Woodcock described the area around St Agnes as follows: “What a scene met the eye. Ruined houses, broken furniture, torn-up trees, crowds of confused and agitated people, and all the while the storm pitilessly raining down and deluging the roads with great pools of water.”

Eight people died and about 20 were injured. Most of those affected were “liberated Africans and coloured people occupying the cottages and little plots of garden ground in the districts of Grants Town and Baines Town”.

According to Captain Nelson, the tornado was first sighted at Andros. “We next hear of it at Southwest Bay. In the same quarter it is stated that two clouds, each bearing a rainbow, met …

Three waterspouts were seen from the southwest of the island … Having struck the southwest coast it proceeded through the pine barrens to-

wards Nassau passing about two miles to the westward of the African village of Carmichael ... We have no further account until it approached Nassau, where it came down on its way over the low hills above the town to (a point) very near where the tornado of 1825 also ended.”

Before transforming into a waterspout as it reached the harbour, the tornado demolished one wing of the home of the Chief Justice on Fort Fincastle hill and took off the roof of a neighbouring large house.

“The schools and the little chapel of St Agnes, in which the moral and secular education of 400 black and coloured children is carried on, were mercifully spared.”

There is also a brief account of the 1825 tornado, which occurred on October 5 that year. Heralded by a large and heavy squall, it advanced rapidly on Nassau from the southeast and caused “much damage in its short but energetic course.”

Waterspouts are common in the Bahamas during the rainy season, but tornados on land are rare.

• What do you think?

Send comments to lsmith@ tribunemedia.net or visit www.bahamapundit.com

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, PAGE 11

Fight against Zika virus turns focus to Olympic athletes

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net HEALTH officials have not relented in their efforts to prevent the spread of the Zika virus to The Bahamas, with a major focus now being placed on athletes and coaches travelling to Brazil – the 2016 Olympic host country – this summer.

The statement was made

by Chief Medical Officer Dr Glen Beneby on Monday as he clarified the Ministry of Health’s present course of action to combat the virus which is now being consid-

ered a global pandemic.

He told The Tribune that the Ministry of Health, through its public health facilities have ramped up its educational efforts, particularly as it relates to women who are pregnant or can become pregnant, and persons travelling to global destinations where the virus is prevalent.

In January, the World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency conference to discuss the “explosive” spread of the Zika virus in the Americas.

Local Pan American Health Organization

(PAHO)/WHO representative Dr Gerry Eijkemans disclosed that the rapid spread of the virus came as a result of the lack of immunity among the population in the Americas and the proliferation of the Aedes mosquitoes in all the region’s countries except Canada and continental Chile.

This week, Dr Beneby maintained that officials in the Bahamas have had regular meetings in an attempt to stay proactive in its fight against both the breeding of the Aedes mosquitoes and the spread of the virus.

“We are working to eliminate those breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito. We are working closely with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in America and our regional counterpart, CAFA,” he stated.

“We are working closely with healthcare workers, firming up our educational programme and making specific intervention in our Maternal and Child Health Clinics to address the challenges of Zika virus.”

Over the last two months, the Zika virus has become a major point of contention

for Olympic officials as the virus has now been blamed for thousands of cases of microcephaly – a rare birth defect that causes newborns to be born with an uncommonly small skull.

The threat has become so severe in Brazil, that the CDC has issued a level two alert for anyone attending the Olympic summer games.

Rio, the host city, is considered the epicentre of the Zika virus by international health officials.

Bahamian athletes will head to Brazil in weeks.

To date, health officials

have started to work closely with those athletes travelling to Brazil, according to Dr Beneby.

“We have a particular programme for persons who will be travelling to Brazil for our athletes, as well as those who may later this summer be travelling to that particular country,” he said, when asked about circumstances related to athletes.

However, Dr Beneby couldn’t provide any specifics about that programme.

The Olympic Games are scheduled for August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

ST JOHN’S COLLEGE UNVEILS NEW SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM

By ALEXANDER HAWKINS

ST JOHN’S College unveiled its new solar energy system yesterday, making it the first Anglican school in The Bahamas to introduce sustainable energy.

With a $50,000 grant from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEFSGP) the school is harnessing the sun’s energy to help power its campus and move towards renewable energy sources. The College’s pool facility will be entirely powered by solar energy.

Charlene Carey, the Project Consultant, told The Tribune that both sustainability and saving money for the school were serious factors in the solar initiative. She said that The Bahamas is one of the “top ten countries affected by climate change” and therefore had to contribute to a more sustainable future.

The College’s Principal, Dr Nevillene Evans, said that the staff of St John’s had taken part in a “professional development workshop” to increase the awareness of sustainability

SOME of the solar panels at St John’s College’s new facility.

in the classrooms, resulting in a decision to implement a solar energy system.

The school community has been working diligently since last August to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy on campus. “At the beginning of the school year our teachers participated in a professional development workshop which focused on how they could take climate change into the classroom,” said Dr Evans. “Throughout the year, our students under the guidance of Father Shazz Turnquest explored energy efficiency resulting in the creation of an energy conservation policy for our school. We look forward to implementing the policy in September and participating in the Eco-Schools Bahamas programme in the new school year.”

Fr Turnquest, the physics teacher, started a student-led campaign with his “energy club” to explore ways in which the St John’s campus could increase sustainability further still.

Next school year, St John’s will be participating in the “Eco-Schools Bahamas Programme”, improving

BISHOP Laish Boyd blesses the solar energy system installed with grant funding from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme at St John’s College pool.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff energy and water use as seminar on climate change terday, after which the solar for the faculty, and encom- facility was blessed by Bishwell as waste reduction.

“The Anglican education passed an assessment of op Laish Boyd before its ofsystem fosters in students a campus energy usage, the ficial opening. The blessing knowledge of, and love for, adddition of Eco-booths to coincided with the graduatheir environment,” Kevin the College’s annual Mardi tion ceremony of the Class Ryan, Chairman. “By in- Gras school fair, the devel- of 2016.

Representatives from the stalling solar energy, we opment and adoption of a have reduced our contribu- student-driven energy con- school recognised contribution to climate change with servation policy and the in- tions from students, staff, the added benefit of signifi- stallation of a photovoltaic Walker’s Industries Ltd, cantly reducing the school’s system, which was officially the Bahamas Reef Environcommissioned yesterday. ment Educational Foundaelectricity bill.”

Deon Stewart, a repre- tion, the Bahamas National Father Colin Saunders co-ordinated the project, sentative of the GEFSGP, Trust and the GEFSGP for which started with the gave brief remarks during making the St John’s solar professional development an unveiling ceremony yes- energy system possible.

3,000 USERS MAY HAVE ELECTRIC DEBT WRITTEN OFF from page one

Mr Davis told reporters outside of the House of Assembly that he has already approached officials at Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) with hopes of getting them to forgive the debts of consumers who have been unable to settle balances for prolonged periods of time.

He said he has been informed that some 3,000 persons have fallen into this classification, insisting officials now have to look at these clients on a case-bycase basis to determine how best to resolve each matter.

“I have asked the board to consider a programme where persons who have had their lights off for long years, persons indigent, pensioners, (persons) who would have these huge bills because of the cost of electricity at the time,” the Minister of Works said.

Mr Davis said he personally knows consumers who have outstanding balances well beyond $5,000.

“They just can’t pay it now because of their income,” he added. “They barely make sufficient to take care of their everyday needs, much less to take care of electricity. So we have to find an an-

swer for that. I am advised that there are over 3,000 persons who had electricity who are no longer on the grid and have been so for quite a long time.”

According to Mr Davis, the potential to forgive these outstanding balances remains just one aspect of ongoing discussions between the Christie administration and PowerSecure – BPL’s management company.

Mr Davis, who has responsibility for BPL, indicated that officials are working to secure additional generators to help offset the energy demand seen in the summer months.

Over the last two weeks consumers have been plagued by almost daily power outages as the corporation works to meet demand.

On Monday, Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney slammed PowerSecure as he stressed that the new deal for the utility provider has resulted in no improvement in electrical services despite assurances by the government.

In addition to Mr McCartney, former State Environment Minister Phenton Neymour and former BEC Chairman Leslie Miller

have also voiced their dismay with how the management company is running BPL, formerly the Bahamas Electricity Corporation.

However, despite the criticism, Mr Davis throughout his budget presentation and subsequent interviews with reporters praised the move, calling it a major step towards a modern Bahamas.

Mr Davis maintained that the government has received a plan of action from PowerSecure.

When asked if the plan would be released, Mr Davis said he was unprepared to present the plan publicly as there were still a lot of

“sensitive issues” that had to be addressed and resolved.

During his presentation in the House of Assembly, Mr Davis said: “By the time we came to office in 2012, the FNM had placed our Bahamas in such a difficult state, a reduced standard of living had become the ‘new normal’. More and more Bahamians suffered from a level of unprecedented economic hardship.

“By our charter, we committed to initiate a plan to lower the cost of electricity in the Bahamas. Not only did we initiate that plan, we delivered,” he added.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, June 22, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

‘The most important decision British voters will have to make in a lifetime’

Stay or go? Peter Young examines how the UK’s place in Europe is in the balance before tomorrow’s referendum

A

FTER a quiet start, the now frenzied runup to a referendum about Britain’s membership of the European Union (EU) has turned surprisingly rancorous.

Although in itself a good example of the exercise of democracy, the debate has become nasty and personal as voters face what has been described as a watershed moment in the nation’s history.

Since the announcement in February by Prime Minister David Cameron that a referendum would be held on June 23, the two sides - Britain Stronger in Europe and Vote Leave - have progressively intensified their campaigns. With accusations of exaggeration and distortion of the facts, these have become bad tempered and characterised by threats, bullying and blustering; and the epithets have flowed fast and furiously as passions run high and the rhetoric on both sides has been ratcheted up.

Vote Leave leaders have been accused by respected Conservative grandees, like former Prime Minister Sir John Major, of lying about the likely repercussions of quitting the EU (Brexit) while Mr Cameron himself is reported to have said that Brexit would ‘put a bomb under our economy’ and that Leave campaigners were guilty of a ‘con trick’ in misleading the general public about the effects of

LEADER of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage smiles while campaigning for Britain to leave the EU in Clacton-on-Sea, England. The vote on the EU referendum takes place on Thursday. quire an austerity budget ment them. no longer being in the EU ber of the EU or to leave, large turnout is likely. the public has been bomIn such circumstances, and higher taxes.

Single Market.

On the broader front, For their part, Vote barded with detailed infor- the pollsters might be exTrade imbalance Leave has accused the gov- mation - through newspaper pected to conduct wide Brexit could mean a loss The campaigners mainernment and the Remain articles and advertisements, ranging surveys and to pro- of collaboration across a tain that the UK should group of peddling what has interviews and debates on vide reasonably accurate range of issues; for exam- reassert control, inter alia, become known as ‘Project TV and radio as well as forecasts in spite of their ple, foreign policy, security over major issues like immiFear’, with false or unsub- public meetings - so that failure to predict correctly and policing, immigration, gration (now at an annual stantiated warnings about few people can be unaware the eventual outcome of social justice, transport and net rate of 330,000 overthe economic consequences of the seriousness of what is Britain’s General Election the environment as well as all), agriculture and fisherat stake. last year. The most recent in the medical and other ies and its trading relations of Britain going it alone.

This referendum is being polling figures show that, technological fields. In Mr with the rest of the world.

Amidst all this, however, the horrific murder described as the most im- after Remain had consist- Cameron’s words, Britain Remaining in the EU with would suf- unrestricted immigration last week of an opposition portant decision that vot- ently been in fer ‘an ab- would drive down wages, Labour Party Member of ers in Britain will be asked front during the ‘The Leave ject, self- distort the domestic labour Parliament, reportedly by to make in a lifetime. It has last few months, campaign’s recent imposed a mentally disturbed man, also been called a litmus the Leave cammarket and put increasing gained move ahead in humiliaforced a temporary truce test of the national mood. paign pressure on public services, seven-point the polls seems tion’ if, as a all of which would affect loin the referendum battle The outcome could define a though to be attributable proud and cal workers many of whom, which was put on hold for Britain for generations to lead, important a few days as a mark of re- come, for it will determine with many peoaccording to the polls, seem country, spect and until Parliament the nation’s future relation- ple still un- to a shifting of to be favouring Brexit.

This emphasis from it walked was recalled on Monday so ship with the EU politically decided.

A vote to stay, they claim, seems economic issues away from would also risk increasthat MPs could pay tribute and economically and in a change myriad of other ways, and a to be attributmemberto their fallen colleague. ing pressure on Britain to ship of a join the eurozone and the Nonetheless, with cam- possible Brexit will have se- able to a shift- to immigration, paigners at full throttle in rious repercussions within ing of emphasis which has become powerful Schengen agreement as and influ- well as to accept more pothe approach to tomorrow’s Europe and further afield. from economic for many the ential bloc litical integration leading vote, which will be a simple So it will be a momentous issues to immiof 28 coun- towards a federal superchoice to remain as a mem- decision for millions and a gration, which matter of greatest has become for concern.’ tries, and state. In short, the nation many the matthe result would be at the mercy of ter of greatest would be a eurocrats who would push concern. permanent diminution of forward the EU’s agenda Despite this, the experts the nation’s standing in the in the knowledge that they ‘reading the runes’ suggest world. no longer needed to be conthat, while the tide may To underpin this argu- cerned about meaningful have been running in fa- ment, he has gathered opposition from Britain. vour of Brexit, there is still support from other world Furthermore, they add, little between the sides and leaders including President Remain campaigners have some polls are now show- Obama, who has made it exaggerated the significance ing Remain slightly ahead plain that the United States of the Single Market, given in the wake of the tragic would prefer to see Britain the imbalance of trade bekilling of the Labour MP. stay in the EU. tween Britain and the EU So, the polls remain finely By contrast, the Leave which is substantially in the balanced and the likely re- campaign has focused more latter’s favour - for example, sult is too close to call - an on the sovereignty issue Germany’s huge export of assessment underlined by and Britain’s loss of inde- vehicles to the UK - so that Professor John Curtice of pendence as a member of it is unlikely that British the University of Strath- the EU, maintaining that firms would lose their Euroclyde, one of the most reli- the referendum should be pean markets to any signifiable and respected voices in based on political as well cant extent. Leave also conBritish political polling. as economic considera- siders that, as a major player tions, but it has questioned on the international stage Differing positions strongly the validity of Re- and the world’s fifth largest The Remain campaign’s main’s economic predic- economy, the UK would be main protagonist is Mr tions, calling them phoney more than capable of securCameron, who, as well as and scaremongering. ing trade deals with other enjoying the support of These campaigners say countries. the majority of his cabinet that Britain should not turn In this week’s referencolleagues, has been able its back on Europe. Rather, dum, the question boils to deploy the governmen- it should remain engaged down to whether to accept tal machine to back his at many levels - but not the status quo and continue case that Britain would be through the existing EU in- to enjoy the benefits of bestronger, safer and better stitutions because the bloc ing inside the Single Maroff as a member of the EU has changed from a free ket, while trying to avoid rather than leaving, which trade area into a bloated being sucked further into would be a leap in the dark and incompetent bureau- the parts of the EU which with unknown consequenc- cracy with no democratic do not suit Britain, or to es. legitimacy which is heading suffer economic uncertainHis principal argument is inexorably towards further ty and a likely downturn in economic, which has been political integration and a the short term in order to endorsed by the Bank of supranational state. In the regain freedom from a dicEngland, the International words of Boris Johnson, for- tatorial EU and its stifling Monetary Fund, the Or- mer mayor of London and a regulations and to secure ganisation for Economic leading voice of the Leave the restoration of Britain’s Co-operation and Devel- group, the EU is unelected, sovereignty and democracy opment and others includ- undemocratic, unaccount- to enable it to run its own ing prominent business- able and unreformable. affairs in its national intermen and economists. It is They go on to demand est without interference based on the premise that that Britain should return from Brussels. it makes sense to continue to being a sovereign nation So, the scene is set for a existing trading relation- governed by its own poli- showdown tomorrow. This ships with major partners in ticians elected every five will be an historic vote with the EU Single Market and years and making and living far-reaching repercussions. to build on these through under its own laws, some It could bring about a posco-operation and by bring- 60 per cent of which now sible change of direction ing to bear influence from derive from the EU. They for the nation. The majorthe inside as well as being insist that it is no longer ac- ity of voters will probably able to continue to attract ceptable for the country to not be greatly concerned foreign investment through be subject to EU directives about a possible collapse membership of a tariff-free emanating from unelected of the whole EU project in market of some 500 million and unaccountable bureau- the event of Brexit but will people. crats in Brussels which seek decide in accordance with Remain argues that leav- to influence and interfere their perception of the ining this well-established in vast swathes of everyday terests of their own country. and traditional market for life in EU member states.

By early morning the British exporters would Britain’s democracy, they following day Britons will result in a recession with claim, is being steadily know their fate. The stakes higher prices and inter- eroded because the EU has could not be higher. est rates, lower wages and the powers of a state so that fewer jobs and opportuni- these directives have the • Peter Young is a retired ties together with a drop in force of law and, under the British diplomat living in Gross Domestic Product EU’s terms and rules, the Nassau. From 1996 to 2000 and a blow to the public member states concerned he was British High Comfinances, which would re- are compelled to imple- missioner to The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, PAGE 13

CIBC STAFF BRING SMILES TO CHILDREN’S FACES AT NAZARETH HOME LAST weekend, the courtyard of The Nazareth Home for Children was decorated with the full bells and whistles, a huge bouncing castle, colourful balloons and bright sashes in a fun day to celebrate the coming of summer and the winding down of the school year.

The staff members of the CIBC FirstCaribbean John F Kennedy Drive branch brought cheer to the children of the home, throwing a party and donating essential items for the institution.

“This is the best day in my life,” said one of the 38 children that call the Naza-

reth Centre home.

The children, aged up to 11, were treated to a barbecue of hotdogs and hamburgers, candy and popcorn along with an assortment of juices, water and other soft drinks. Each child also received a gift bag, filled with goodies and school supplies.

Throughout the day, the JFK staff organised races, games and activities for the children, the favourite being the “So You Think You Can Dance” competition where children and JFK staff members could challenge each other to a dance off to today’s most popular songs. All the win-

ners received prizes such as colouring books and crayons, toy sets, board games, hair accessories, and sports equipment.

The day finished with a donation of cases of essential items such as pampers, soap, baby wipes, water, toys and juice presented to the home to help relieve some of the cost of everyday administration.

“We wish to truly thank CIBC FirstCaribbean for making this possible, without their act of generosity, our mini fun day would not have been possible,” said the administrator, Fiordelisa Bain.

The fun day was organised

by CIBC FirstCaribbean as a part of the bank’s AdoptA-Cause programme, an initiative across the bank’s network to encourage staff involvement in community activities. Through the programme, employees get the opportunity to identify projects in their immediate surroundings in which to become involved. Thanks to the efforts of employees, the bank supports almost 100 causes throughout the Caribbean every year, including projects with schools, non-governmental organisations, charities and other interest groups.

MEMBERS of the CIBC FirstCaribbean JFK Branch work together to decorate the Nazareth Home for Children for the Fun Day the bank sponsored for the children.

Bahamas National Trust hosts

Inagua Day

THE Bahamas National Trust Retreat hosted an Inagua Day celebration on Sunday, featuring a range of food, activities and entertainment for visitors.

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

READERS RESPOND TO MINNIS OVER LEADERSHIP FIGHT FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis is confident he will remain the party’s leader after its convention next month, but that didn’t sit well with some of those commenting on tribune242. com.

Honestman said: “If Doc comes out of the convention as leader it will be as leader of a hugely diminished party. This is the ‘last chance saloon’ for the FNM. If the delegates get this wrong then the FNM will be an irrelevance come May 2017.”

Economist asked: “Why are you even contesting it?

“Your failure, after a full 18 months as leader, to fill the position led me to look for a replacement or another party. I was frustrated with waiting for you to show some leadership. If you are re-elected I will not be voting FNM. Not only

do I have no faith in you now, but I don’t think that you have a grasp of what is really needed to save our Bahamas.”

DillyTree wasn’t impressed with Dr Minnis’ job as local MP: “Minnis is my MP, but has done absolutely nothing for this constituency - take a look around.

And this is an easy constituency, so if he can’t manage this, how will he deal with the Bahamas as a whole?

If Minnis is on the ticket in 2017, I will simply stay home. I will not vote for him. Period.”

But that prompted Sheeprunner12 to ask: “Dilly

Tree, are you asking that Doc spend his own money to improve the constituency? What is your understanding of the role of an MP? Can you imagine having LBT as your MP?” NassauBoy77 thought Dr Minnis had “failed to unite his team”: “Minnis has failed as party leader in the biggest of ways by failing to do what is expected of him at the very basic level of leadership and that is to unite his team. If the FNM delegates cannot see that this man cannot and will not lead us to victory in a few short months, then they are blind. We are at an all time low as a party. He is the leader, he is responsible!!!”

And there was this from John: “Personally I think Butler-Turner should have done like Hillary Clinton did after Obama defeated her: Sit small, support him

ONE DEAD AS TROPICAL STORM HITS MEXICO MEXICO CITY Associated Press

THE remnants of Tropical Storm Danielle dissipated yesterday after bringing heavy rains that caused little major damage but at least one death in east-central Mexico.

The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said

that Danielle weakened quickly after making landfall about ten miles north of the port of Tuxpan, in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.

The storm flooded streets and the Veracruz state government cancelled many classes as a precautionary measure. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of any casualties or

significant damage.

But in the neighbouring state of Tamaulipas to the north, the state government reported the body of a man was found in the city of Madero, near the Veracruz state line, after water levels in a drainage canal dropped after Danielle passed.

The 22-year-old man was apparently homeless.

(Obama) and wait her turn.

Her latest moves reflects her as a person so desperate for the leadership post, that she would use even

‘the one who came in from the cold’ to help her get it.

What happens then? They turn against each other and someone gets slapped

down?”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

PAGE 14, Wednesday, June 22, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Calling All High

STUDENTS

SCHOOL S1BACK TO SC

HOOL

2 0 1 5

•

S U P P L E M E N T

HEAD GIRL ASH LEY THOMPSON WITH HER PRI JOHN'S COLLEG ZES AND AWARD E GRADUATIO N CEREMONY. S AT THE ST PHOTO: PETER RAMSAY/BIS

Every year in August THE TRIBUNE publishes a popular Back to School supplement as a guide to the following academic year.

In the supplement we feature the profiles of high school students across the Bahamas and Family Islands.

We want profiles from as many schools and students as possible to make this guide essential and informative.

Profiles must include 1. Name 2. Age 3. School 4. Grade 5. Parent name or names 6. Goals and aspirations, prizes won and honours awarded

7. Name of college they will be attending (if attending) Plus a suitable photograph in .jpeg format (graduation or any other image).

How to submit profiles Email to back2school@ tribunemedia.net with ‘Back To School’ in the subject field and photos in .jpeg format.

By post to Back To School, The Tribune, Shirley Street & Deveaux Streets, PO Box N-3207, Nassau.

By hand to The Tribune office The deadline for the profiles is June 30, 2016 and there is no cost involved. For any questions please contact Tribune Features at 5022373 or 502-2387 or 502-2411.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, PAGE 15